The Calicut Airport Police have registered a case against an unruly Air India passenger who uprooted the armrests of his seat on being refused a drink on flight AI 921, plying the Riyadh-Calicut route. The flyer, Thatethil Nijesh, attacked the armrest with such violence that two seats - 30 B and C - were rendered inoperative, forcing AI to reduce its flying roster by a couple of passengers until such time that the damage is repaired.
Nijesh was detained by the Central Industrial Security Force when the aircraft reached Calicut and subsequently handed over to the police. The incident occurred on Sunday night.
Nijesh was on the return leg of the flight from Mumbai, which passed through Calicut. He was served two drinks along with his meal. "This passenger asked for a third drink. We complied, but he kept asking for more," an AI official said, adding that Nijesh combined whisky and beer. "Upset at not being served a fourth drink, he threatened to hit a crew member. When he continued to argue, the crew requested Nijesh - who was walking up to the galley and back - to settle down. This is when he in a fit of rage broke two armrests."
An AI engineering team which examined the armrests have declared that damage to two adjoining seats is extensive. "Till the repairs are done the aircraft will continue to fly. The two seats will however not be given to passengers. This will result in a financial loss of two passenger fares in this aircraft," an aircraft engineer said.
"Unruly flyers are a safety menace to both fellow flyers and the aircraft itself. Indian carriers have witnessed scores of such acts either by inebriated passengers or even perfectly sober people who suddenly acted strange. While strict action is taken once such people are handed over to security agencies on ground, the critical issue is keeping them in check when the plane is in air," said a senior pilot. In August 2014, passengers and crew of AI's Australia-Delhi flight had to scout for ropes and wires on board that could keep the flyer firmly in his seat.
"As crew of Indian airlines on international flights we have to be firm in serving drinks to passengers and ensure that no one gets more than a certain number of drinks. This is not a fixed number, but we do watch the passenger and his/her consumption pattern. Try asking for a third or fourth drink on any western airline and the crew will firmly warn that you will be reported on arrival if you ask for more. Our hospitality, however, makes our crew more lenient which they should not be," said a crew member.
- aditya anand | TNN
Nijesh was detained by the Central Industrial Security Force when the aircraft reached Calicut and subsequently handed over to the police. The incident occurred on Sunday night.
Nijesh was on the return leg of the flight from Mumbai, which passed through Calicut. He was served two drinks along with his meal. "This passenger asked for a third drink. We complied, but he kept asking for more," an AI official said, adding that Nijesh combined whisky and beer. "Upset at not being served a fourth drink, he threatened to hit a crew member. When he continued to argue, the crew requested Nijesh - who was walking up to the galley and back - to settle down. This is when he in a fit of rage broke two armrests."
An AI engineering team which examined the armrests have declared that damage to two adjoining seats is extensive. "Till the repairs are done the aircraft will continue to fly. The two seats will however not be given to passengers. This will result in a financial loss of two passenger fares in this aircraft," an aircraft engineer said.
"Unruly flyers are a safety menace to both fellow flyers and the aircraft itself. Indian carriers have witnessed scores of such acts either by inebriated passengers or even perfectly sober people who suddenly acted strange. While strict action is taken once such people are handed over to security agencies on ground, the critical issue is keeping them in check when the plane is in air," said a senior pilot. In August 2014, passengers and crew of AI's Australia-Delhi flight had to scout for ropes and wires on board that could keep the flyer firmly in his seat.
"As crew of Indian airlines on international flights we have to be firm in serving drinks to passengers and ensure that no one gets more than a certain number of drinks. This is not a fixed number, but we do watch the passenger and his/her consumption pattern. Try asking for a third or fourth drink on any western airline and the crew will firmly warn that you will be reported on arrival if you ask for more. Our hospitality, however, makes our crew more lenient which they should not be," said a crew member.
- aditya anand | TNN
